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Original poster

Neighbour wants me to pay 11 year old bill

78 replies

lopdedop · 07/02/2019 10:19

I live in a tiny town(not in UK) . I'm an outsider, moved here 12 yrs ago.

I live in a group of 3 houses which at the time I bought were having quite a lot of work done ie resurfacing road, improvements in Elec/water supply.
My neighbours kept giving me 'community' bills during my first year in the house. Split between the 3 of us.
This continues today but not on the scale of the first year.
I was doing my house up, so lots going on.

Yesterday my neighbour(we get on very well) tells me she had heard recently that an electrician has been bad mouthing her, as she failed to pay a bill for the works he carried out in 2008. She is mortified, her reputation etc etc.
Apparently, it was me who didn't pay my third. She wants me to pay it, of course.
I can't understand how this has not been brought up before. I have no recollection of this, as it was so long ago.
I have offered to go to speak to the electrician. She says if I don't pay it (£500),she will have to.
Wwyd?

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 07/02/2019 10:22

I would ask for proof that it was you who hadn’t paid it tbh

It could be she is trying to get away with not paying it so her “reputation” is restored

wigglypiggly · 07/02/2019 10:26

that's a long time ago, you need to ask for proof that you didn't pay, what it was for, who paid and how much. why was it up to her to pay the electrician?

Original poster
lopdedop · 07/02/2019 10:27

Thanks. I asked if they still had the original bill, but she said no, not after all this time

OP posts:
Original poster
lopdedop · 07/02/2019 10:28

She was having electricity cables re routed from her garden

OP posts:
UnderMajorDomoMinor · 07/02/2019 10:30

What? She needs to speak to him not suddenly make you give him money based on a rumour!

Original poster
lopdedop · 07/02/2019 10:31

Posted too soon. As it was her garden the cables were in, she employed the electrician. This is how it usually works. Other neighbour sorts the water pump, as it's on their land, then gives us the bill.

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 07/02/2019 10:31

I would by pass her altogether and speak to the electrician

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 07/02/2019 10:32

If she was having work done, I'm not sure how this is your bill.

Original poster
lopdedop · 07/02/2019 10:33

She says she has spoken to his partner. I will go tomorrow to the office. But thinking to set the record straight, so they can blame me, not her.
I think some responsibility lies with the electrician for not sending any reminders

OP posts:
UnderMajorDomoMinor · 07/02/2019 10:35

What? She needs to speak to him not suddenly make you give him money based on a rumour!

Original poster
lopdedop · 07/02/2019 10:36

She says she can't speak directly to the electrician, as he is so angry, and has been blanking her in the street. Until last week, she says she had no idea why.

OP posts:
UnderMajorDomoMinor · 07/02/2019 10:36

Slow down. If they haven’t chased for 11 years then the convo should be ‘neighbour is upset due to rumours’ not ‘please take my money’

Original poster
lopdedop · 07/02/2019 10:39

I really don't want to fall out with her over this. Obviously legally after such a long time I'm under no obligation to pay. But morally?

OP posts:
ChrisjenAvasarala · 07/02/2019 10:44

Was the work being done necessary for your property or electricity supply? Did it have anything to do with your property?

If it was work which was needed for your house too, then I would pay it because it's the right thing to do (even though the guy should have sent reminders ages ago instead of throwing a tantrum now).

Original poster
lopdedop · 07/02/2019 10:47

Yes, one of the cables was mine. So a joint community bill

OP posts:
Original poster
lopdedop · 07/02/2019 10:54

I don't suppose they would be able to prove I had/hadn't paid it. It's too long ago. I just don't remember anything. I recall work being done, but there was so many other things. I paid out so much that first year, that I ran out of money to fix my own house up.
I suppose I will pay to keep her happy.

OP posts:
Hiphopopotamous · 07/02/2019 11:16

@lopdedop
Can't believe you are just going to pay a bill based on hearsay?
You need to see a proper invoice and receipts for the 2 neighbours that supposedly paid.
Talk to the electrician yourself to get the documents. If they don't have any paperwork, they have no leg to stand on.

£500 is a lot of money to just throw away!

Cluckinghell · 07/02/2019 11:20

Don't just pay. Ask for bills and copies of receipts and speak to the electrician directly. This all sounds very dodgy!

Reallyevilmuffin · 07/02/2019 11:28

If she didn't realise it hadn't been paid, she must have some evidence to know it was you and not her/other that hadn't paid their third? Surely?

I would pay based on that information shown.

Also do you each pay the contractor or one pays and then each pays that person back? As if in the second scenario which j feel is more likely I don't know how a third of a bill.would be missed?

Somethingsmellsnice · 07/02/2019 11:37

Legally he is unable to pursue the bill after 6 years of unacknowledged debt.

However if as you say there is evidence he hasn't been paid and that the non-payment was actually your share then you may want to pay for good neighbourly relations. I suspect he'd still go round slagging her off saying paid 11 years late. Has he not chased her for it ever?

I'd be inclined not to pay.

IncrediblySadToo · 07/02/2019 11:41

DON’T PAY.

The bill was in her name, it was due to be split between the three of you, but it was still HER responsibility. It was HER responsibility to make sure you and MrWaterPump paid your share to her and to pay the bill. It was the electrician’s business to chase the payment...ELEVEN YEARS AGO.

It’s FAR too long ago and far too many bills ago to start chasing this now. Ridiculous.

Simply say to her that as far as you’re concerned, everything was paid, ELEVEN YEARS AGO and that the electrician is mad to bring this up now and it’s entirely up to her whether she’s wants to tell the electrician to stop being so ridiculous or to pay.

IncrediblySadToo · 07/02/2019 11:45

Legally he is unable to pursue the bill after 6 years of unacknowledged debt.

Really? You know this how?

You don’t even know what country she lives in 🙄

Somethingsmellsnice · 07/02/2019 11:56

*Legally he is unable to pursue the bill after 6 years of unacknowledged debt.

Really? You know this how?

You don’t even know what country she lives in *

Ok then on the assumption she is within England and Wales I know this because I am a Commercial Litigation solicitor qualified in that jurisdiction! That's how.

Original poster
lopdedop · 07/02/2019 11:57

Legally it's 5 years here.
I think I will go to speak to him directly tomorrow. If he can provide evidence of non payment, or even evidence that the other two did pay, then I'll probably pay it. If not, I'll explain to him, I won't pay for something I have no proof of.
He may be pissed off, but at least I may in some way restore my neighbours 'reputation'.
Thanks for all the advice. I'll update after I've spoken to him.

OP posts:
Somethingsmellsnice · 07/02/2019 11:57

Oops - didn't read the first line of OP post - not in UK. Soz!

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